So, what do these Gnostic Gospels actually teach that caused them to be labeled as heresy by early Christians? For example, Gnosticism teaches that the universe and the world was not created by an all-knowing God, but by a lesser god, who lacked the intellect to create a perfect universe. The Gospel of Philip says that “the world came about through a mistake. For he who created it wanted to create it imperishable and immortal. He fell short of attaining his desire.” It is believed that this lesser god came from fall out among cosmic beings, making him a substandard deity. The result of his creation was a universe polluted with ignorance, pain, decay and death. And yet this deity demands worship and even proclaims himself to be the one true God.